by Hope
No one really talks about the quiet seasons of life. Or as I am calling this season…the “Huh?” season.
We prepare people for chaos. For busy. For “you’ll miss this someday.” What no one says is: one day your house will be quieter, your calendar will stop yelling at you, and your expenses will shift in ways that make taking a breathe doable.
Welcome to my current season.
A Day in the Life
Most days look something like this:
- 2-ish hours of caretaking duties several times a day – morning, afternoon and evening
- 2-ish hours strategizing a new business I am absolutely going to launch (just not today, apparently)
- Several hours of ongoing work for existing clients
- Bible study prep, because I apparently enjoy responsibility in all forms
And somehow, despite all of that, I am also living the life of a semi-hermit, and I am not mad about it.
Caretaking
Caretaking, for the record, is real work. It’s appointments, logistics, emotional support, making sure life continues to function, and standing next to mom’s hospital bed thinking, ‘How is it only 10:30 a.m.?’ It doesn’t generate income, but it does generate exhaustion and a deep appreciation for anyone who shows up consistently.
Which brings me to modern miracles:
? grocery delivery
? pharmacy delivery
? hospice support that actually supports
? and the unmatched gift of comfy pajamas that can pass for “real clothes” on Zoom if the lighting is right
I am deeply grateful. Also deeply tired. Both can be true.
Work and Working on Work
Then there’s the business.
I spend about two hours a day planning, refining, rethinking, tweaking, and almost pulling the trigger. If preparation burned calories, I’d be in incredible shape. This is not procrastination-it’s discernment. Or fear. Or wisdom. Or all three holding hands.
The tricky part is that this stage looks unproductive on paper. It’s unpaid, invisible work that doesn’t show up neatly in a budget. And when you’re managing money while your income is steady but your future income is still theoretical, things get…a little bit spicy.
Add in my ongoing client work: work I love, work that matters, work that keeps things afloat-and Bible study prep, which somehow manages to stretch into every quiet corner of my brain, and you’d think there’d be no room left for reflection.
But quiet seasons create space whether you ask for it or not.
Money Gets Weird
And that’s where money gets weird.
I’m not paying for kid expenses the way I used to. I’m not feeding a small army anymore. But emotional spending sneaks in wearing sensible shoes. A little convenience here. A little comfort there. A “why not” purchase because the house is quiet and I miss my kids more than I care to admit.
I miss them. A lot.
I miss the noise, the interruptions, the constant “Mom!” echoing through the house. And sometimes spending money becomes a substitute for that energy-not recklessly, just… tenderly. Like buying reassurance in small, Amazon-sized boxes.
Managing money in this season hasn’t been about aggressive debt payoff or rigid rules. It’s been about not spending to fill emotional gaps and not punishing myself for being human.
A “good money day” right now looks like:
- Not shopping out of boredom
- Not panicking about timelines
- Not pretending this is a hustle season when it clearly isn’t
This is a caretaking season. A stewardship season. A preparation season. A pajama-friendly, delivery-dependent, hermit-adjacent season.
And honestly? I’m kind of loving it.
I don’t need my life to be loud right now. I need it to be sustainable.
That means managing money gently. Respecting my energy. Letting the business unfold at the right pace. Trusting that quiet does not mean stagnant-it means rooting.
So yes, I’m still strategizing. Still caring for others. Still showing up for clients. Still leading Bible studies. Still missing my kids. Still wearing comfy pajamas more often than not.
And I’m learning that sometimes the most responsible financial choice is not forcing yourself to live like you’re in a different chapter.
Quiet seasons don’t look impressive.
But they do meaningful work.
And for now, that’s enough.
This semester my Saturday Bible study is working through the theme Transformation which is where this post came from. Our homework this past week was to identify our season, not judge it, just define it. At the same time, we had to identify the negative self talk we are feeding ourselves as well as the longings we feel. It’s been a really good exercise.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
